Health Highlights: June 17, 2013 Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by the editors of HealthDay: Drug Makers Can be Sued Over Deals to Delay Generic Drug Sales: U.S. Supreme Court Makers of brand-name drugs can be sued for violating U.S. antitrust laws if they pay a potential competitor to delay selling generic versions of the drugs, the Supreme Court ruled Monday in a 5-3 decision. The court said that a "large and unjustified" payment to settle a patent dispute o...

Minority Kids With Autism Less Likely to Use Specialty Services: Study MONDAY, June 17 (HealthDay News) -- Black and Hispanic children with autism are markedly less likely than children from white families to receive specialty care for complications tied to the disorder, a new study finds. Researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital for Children in Boston found that the rates at which minority children accessed specialists such as gastroenterologists, neurologists and psychiatrists, as well as the t...

Sibling Bullying Can Lead to Depression, Anxiety in Victims MONDAY, June 17 (HealthDay News) -- Being picked on by your brother or sister may seem like a normal part of growing up, but for some kids the bullying may be a source of depression and anxiety, a new study suggests. Researchers found that among 3,600 kids in a U.S. survey, those who were pushed around by a sibling -- physically or verbally -- had higher scores on a measure of depression and anxiety symptoms. "Historically, sibling aggression h...

Health Tip: At Greater Risk for Obesity? (HealthDay News) -- Overeating can be a sure ticket to gaining weight and eventually becoming obese. There are other factors that also increase your risk. The American Academy of Family Physicians mentions these examples: Getting insufficient exercise. Having obese family members. Sleeping poorly. Being pregnant. Quitting smoking. Getting older.

Health Tip: If You Have Braces (HealthDay News) -- Eating healthy is especially important when you have braces. That means avoiding sugary foods, which could lead to plaque build-up and tooth decay. The American Dental Association's website offers this additional advice for people who wear braces: Don't eat corn on the cob, popcorn and whole apples. Avoid sticky foods, such as chewing gum and chewy candies. Eat a nutritious, balanced diet. Practice good oral hygiene and ask your orthodontist or dentist ...

Health-Care Shoppers Still in the Dark, Study Says TUESDAY, June 18 (HealthDay News) -- State websites that report the costs of health care services aren't much use to patients who want to compare prices, according to a new U.S. study. "There's growing enthusiasm for improving transparency of prices for health services to help people be well-informed consumers and make better decisions about their care. The problem is that most of the information that's out there isn't particularly useful to the patient...

Blood Test Might Predict Type 1 Diabetes in Children, Study Finds TUESDAY, June 18 (HealthDay News) -- A diagnosis of type 1 diabetes often seems to come out of the blue. But German researchers say they can predict who will likely develop the chronic disease. Blood samples taken from children at increased genetic risk of type 1 diabetes reveal significant "preclinical" clues, the researchers found. The strongest predictor is the presence of two diabetes-related autoantibodies, they reported in the June ...

Fewer Young Americans Lack Health Care Coverage TUESDAY, June 18 (HealthDay News) -- The number of young adults without health care coverage in the United States has declined significantly over the past few years, according to a new government report released Tuesday. That's the good news. Not-so-good are the findings that: 45.5 million people, 14.7 percent of the American population, still don't have health care coverage, and 4.9 million kids under the age of 18 also lack health insurance. The U.S. Cen...

MRIs Spot 'Hidden' Fungal Infections From Tainted Steroid Shots TUESDAY, June 18 (HealthDay News) -- Armed with MRI imaging tests, Michigan doctors have detected spinal infections in patients who received tainted steroid injections for back pain but were showing no signs of illness. The effort to identify patients with "hidden" infection was developed in the wake of last year's multi-state outbreak of fungal meningitis stemming from the contaminated steroid shots. "The use of MRI screening detected spin...

Every Minute Counts for Stroke Victims, Study Confirms TUESDAY, June 18 (HealthDay News) -- For stroke victims, 15 minutes can mean the difference between life and death, a new study finds. Rapid treatment with a clot-dissolving drug reduces stroke patients' risk of in-hospital death and increases their chances of being able to walk and return home when they leave the hospital, according to the study, published in the June 19 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association . "These findings sup...